Your Free Voice

In this episode I'm sharing with you some of my ideas for creative rituals for the winter solstice.  I also wanted to make sure this one was properly grounded in our voices and how we feel about them so I offer: Working with the pause between the in breath and the out breath. Writing a Shadow Inventory. Writing a letter from the self you are ready to become. Making a collage. Singing the things from your shadow inventory as you release them into flames. Scanning your body for the holding and stories that are hiding there.  I also invited you to join my mailing list which you can do here to be the first to know about #7 which is the new resource I'm creating for the new year about releasing ancestral blocks.  Take care of yourself in these cold months, give yourself up to the darkness for a moment to relax and listen to what your body is telling you. You'll be glad you did.  And lets make 2026 the year you fully Free Your Voice! Happy Holidays! Julia   Messy transcript [00:00:00] If you would like to give yourself the gift of a free voice in 2026, I am accepting a few, coaching students for the new year, so reach out to me. That could be for singing or public speaking confidence. My real area of expertise is about overcoming performance anxiety and stage fright, but also stepping into your whole voice. Through the process of individuation, which is a Jungian approach to becoming your full self. I've been a registered voice movement therapy practitioner for over 25 years. I've been a folk singer, a jazz singer. I have an award-winning lullaby album, and I'm an award-winning voice actor, so I know a few things. I don't know all the things, but I know a few things, and if you like my vibe and you think we could work together, I would love to help you on your journey to a free voice. Reach out to yourfreevoice.com and contact. See you then. Hello and welcome to [00:01:00] your Free Voice with me, your host, Julia Norton. This podcast is for people who use their voice professionally or for fun, and they want to understand how it works a bit better, or to get over old stories that might be holding them back. Whatever level you're playing at right now, my goal is to bring you lots of actionable stuff from the technical to the creative, to the deeply woo, to help you free your voice. Hello, hello, and welcome to episode 56. In this episode, we are coming right up on the solstice from where I'm recording this. The solstice begins really at dusk tomorrow till dawn on Sunday. This is a little late getting out to you, but I hope that it's helpful anyway, and just you can really just use it at this time of year when it's dark [00:02:00] and everything is drawing in, and I thought that. And when we are thinking about what we want to let go of, what hasn't been working for us this year, or that we've just had enough of and doesn't suit us anymore, and what we want to open into next year, and this is a very kind of quickie episode because of course, you know all the things are happening, but. I wanted to take some solstice rituals that I love and really put them into a voice user perspective. You know, for somebody that has their voice as their primary, either way of making a living or tool for communication in terms of the creativity and performance, all that kind of thing. So, if that's you, why don't you walk along with me here and try these practices. So if you want to, you could get yourself, uh, ready with a notebook. And a cup of tea, and we can just imagine that we are sitting next to a cozy fire together, and we're gonna jot these things down. You can [00:03:00] go into them in more depth by pausing the recording or just coming back and listening to this another time. Okay, so let's start. First of all, take a lovely quiet breath through the soles of your feet into your belly and releasing, feeling yourself connecting to the chair. Or maybe you're lying on the floor, but just reconnecting with your breath and your body. You don't need to change how you're breathing. You just need to notice that you're breathing. When we are talking about the solstice, the winter solstice in particular, there's a pause between the letting go. And they're taking in the new, it's that dark space where we're waiting for the transformation to happen. So let's just try a breathing exercise, first of all. So let's say, let's take the solstice in breath and [00:04:00] let's do the breathing for four. Hold for five and then out for seven, which is again, a lovely nervous reset, uh, when you're around. Uh, family, just overstimulated, all that kind of thing. So let's do this breathing practice together. Breathe in for four. 1, 2, 3, 4. Hold for five. Relax your body. Five and out for 7, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Let's do it one more time. So exhale, breathe in for four. 1, 2, 3. Four, hold for five. 1, 2, 3, 4, [00:05:00] 5. And exhale for seven. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Okay, so first action is coming into your breath. Second action is to write a shadow inventory. I want you just on a piece of paper in your journal anywhere, I want you to just in your journal or on a piece of paper, write down anything that no longer serves you. Old identities, limiting beliefs, relationships that have run their course patterns. You've outgrown ways of thinking about your voice that just aren't working anymore. Limiting ideas about your voice, about what you can do with your voice. Write it all down. Anything to do with your self expression and your sense of self. Okay, [00:06:00] pause the tape and come back to it when you're ready. Okay, so the first one is finding the pause and the breath. The second one is the shadow inventory, and this third one, I really like this one. Can you write a letter? From the self that you are wanting to step into this, this more authentic, more aligned sense of self, write a letter from that person that you are becoming to the person you are now offering guidance on what to release and what to cultivate. Okay? This is a creative ritual that you could do Number four. Is create a collage of death and rebirth. So a two part visual representation with on one, with one side showing what's ending, right? Any kind of, uh, self-image stuff, what people have said, uh, [00:07:00] ways of behaving, ways that you treat yourself and your voice, and then the new way that you are welcoming in. More the positive side that you're inviting in. So do that as a collage. That's a great activity to do by candlelight. Number five is to look at the shadow inventory that you created, the things that you're letting go and actually give voice to that. So I'm releasing whatever it is I am releasing, feeling self-conscious, in public, or it could be wild and crazy or just on one note, however, but somehow you're singing it, whatever you are releasing, and if you have a drum or a saucepan you can bash or something, you can make a noise at the end of it, which I won't do in your headphones, but you could do, I'm already saying bang. Right. That would be really, really great. [00:08:00] Burn the things that no longer serve you. All that journaling, that paper that you wrote, you can put 'em in single strips or you can burn it all together and you can sing, letting go, releasing anything that feels great for that. Number six, scan your body. Check where you are holding. See what images come from that part of your body that has tension. What are the stories that pop up when you get quiet? Our bodies want to tell us so much and so much of the time we're just not listening. So taking this period of time, sitting in the quiet, sitting in the dark, maybe just with a candle scanning your body and asking your body to tell you what each of the places of holding are actually communicating to you. And number [00:09:00] seven, I'm actually going to create something for you in the new year, a new visualization for you to communicate with your ancestors and release ancestral blocks. If you'd like to know about that resource in the new year, then uh, jump on my mailing list and you'll be the first to know about it. Okay. This is such a beautiful time of year to let go of what's not working and to embrace the self. That's kind of, you've been all along. It's just been hidden. It's not about, you are not good enough as you are. It's actually, you are so good. Let's just let some of the layers of persona peel away so we can get more You. I really appreciate you being with me this year. I have good feelings about 2026. I realize that the world feels like it's in chaos right now, [00:10:00] but I. I don't know. I've got some serious hope. So if you wanna stay on the hope train with me, keep journeying through shadow, keep releasing your voice and keep stepping into more of who you really are, then stay in touch. Okay? Have a glorious solstice and festive season and I'll see you in the new year. Okay, bye.

It's that time of year folks! 🎤 If you need your voice to make a living, share your message or bring the joy (I'm looking at you voice actors, podcast hosts and carol singers!!) ..keeping your voice in great shape should be a daily routine, but sometimes it's even more important.  Like during the cold season :) In this episode I take you through my favorite remedies (many of which you can create in your own kitchen) and yu don't even need to take notes because you can grab my free guide Get that here.  An episode full of simple remedies for prevention, relief and comfort, from saline to nebulizers, to self massage, it's all inside the guide. Stay healthy my friends 😷 ❤️ Important disclaimer - I'm NOT a medical professional, but I've been coaching singers and actors for over 25 years and have found these remedies to be super helpful.  Please help me get the word out about this podcast 🙏🏻 Follow rate and share with your friends especially the ones who need to step into their light and shine!🌟 Follow me on Instagram: @julianortoncoaching   Visit my website: Your Free Voice     #voice #singing #vocalhealthtips #vocalhealth #voicecoach 

This is a very quick episode as I'm actually prepping for Thanksgiving hosting, but I wanted to share. Discover how to tweak your gratitude practice (or create one) so that you can begin to manifest your future. 🌟 It's not selfish to feel gratitude when so many are suffering… in fact it's essential. ❤️ An intention practice for when you're bustling through holiday traffic and shopping, to not add an extra burden to those you encounter… you don't know how many invisible things they are already carrying. 🙏🏻 And a quiet breath. 😮‍💨 Please subscribe and rate and share with your friends and I would LOVE to welcome you to my community of open hearted voicey people, you can find me in all the following places, but the best stuff happens in my private newsletter my website LinkedIN YouTube Instagram I'm so grateful for you! See you next time! Julia xox

Warning there are some references to smoking and swear words in this episode! In this episode I'm chatting with my former voice student and current rock star of the moment, Chris Portka.  I interviewed Chris a couple of years ago about his earlier album 'TRASH Music', which was fab, but in a very different way to this album. Since I received my vinyl copy it's been on a regular rotation in our house, it's that good.  'The Album That Everyone Wants' was recorded in a frenzy of play and experimentation in a hallowed New York Studio earlier this year and the result is honestly just fantastic. Playful, folksy, hopeful and a bit dry & smoky around the edges. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Here are the links to listen and buy - support a real life musican this holiday season! ❤️ Listen to tracks and buy a digital copy HERE Buy the vinyl directky from Chris HERE If you want to listen to my earlier interview with Chris where he talks about his journey to accepting his voice and himself as a singer and working with his Shadow material to transform his life, you can do that here. If you are ready to take the journey yourself, I would love to talk to you about your voice and journey so far.  Schedule a meeting with me to discuss how we might work together on this page.   

In this episode I explore some of my thoughts and feelings about what it means to "come home" to your voice. As the nights draw in and we begin to turn inward a journey into 'self' feels a bit more possible. •  Can you begin to experiment and play with your voice for just 5 minutes a day? What does it feel like to take off any ideas of being 'good' and just vocalizing freely? • How does it feel to move and vocalize? Dancing to music you love and making up a melody or words that don't match the song can feel really naughty and hilarious.  • Which 'coming home' myths resonate with you? Why do you think that storyline is SO popular?  If you would like to understand how your voice actually works I created a short online course a few years ago called Your Vocal Health - it's really liberating and creatively freeing to know what actually causes vocal loss.  More info on that here.  If you happen to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to spend an afternoon moving and vocalizing with me in Berkeley, there are a few spots left for my Coming Home to Your Voice workshop at the Berkeley Alembic, details for that are here.  If you're enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and share with your friends, thank you so much for listening!  

Welcome to Your Free Voice Episode 51! A couple of years ago I had the great pleasure of being approached by a young award winning documentary film maker called Colette Ghunim. She was recording voiceover for her latest film Traces of Home and was looking for some voice coaching. I helped her with that, but also we dove into the subject matter of her film,  and how to process generational trauma through shadow work, how to manage vocal stress during protest marches, and how to not lose your voice during a gruelling film circuit.  She is one of the most courageous, generous, heart filled and joyful people I have ever had the privilege to get to know and I really hope you enjoy this interview.  BIO As a documentary filmmaker and nonprofit co-founder, Colette Ghunim's soul purpose is to use the power of film and storytelling for those oppressed around the world to be seen, to be heard, and to heal. Her first documentary, The People's Girls (2016), received over 2 million views and won Best Short Documentary at the Arab Film Festival for its bold spotlight on street harassment in Egypt. In co-production with Kartemquin Films and funded by Latino Public Broadcasting, she is directing Traces of Home, her first feature-length film documenting her inner quest to find home through unearthing her parent's forced migrations from Mexico and Palestine. Colette is also the co-founder of Mezcla Media Collective, a nonprofit organization aimed to cultivate a thriving landscape for over 700 women and non-binary filmmakers of color in Chicago. Her work has been highlighted on international outlets such as Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, Univision, and TEDx. Colette was selected as a 2023 Obama Foundation USA Leader, 2024 Sundance Institute x ISF Fellow, and was featured on Arab America's "30 Under 30" list. When we recorded this interview it was only a few days after bombing resumed in Gaza. . I deleted the first 15 minutes of our conversation because it was too tender to share here, but we cried together and laughed together and then got back to the work of sharing stories together. As Colette so beautifully puts it in this episode our job is Radical Love …and also action.  Thank you so much for listening! Here is where to find Colette and how to support her storytelling mission. www.tracesofhome.com  www.coletteghunim.com @cocos.sanctuary  @tracesofhome Here is how you can support her efforts to finish the film Traces of Home please reach out to Colette if you have connections to film festivals or colleges or universities where she might be able to share the film and speak about the journey. Finally, if you are interested in the visualization she did with me about finding your true self behind the wall, you can get that here.  Please share this episode far and wide and help Colette bring her message of hope and healing to as many people as possible.

Hello, Welcome to episode 50 of Your Free Voice! I can hardly believe we're here, but we are. Thank you so much for listening ❤️ In this episode I wanted to revisit what it means to have a FREE Voice and I listened back to my first episode and thought, yeah, I'm gonna share that again. There's a chance you weren't here at the beginning or you didn't hear all the episodes anyway, and I think it clarifies my purpose somewhat so here you go. You might even get something new out of it listening again. I'd love to hear from you if you did. :) Oh, and before I forget here's the link to my small coaching group for public speaking skills called From Stage Fright to Spotlight. It's a very small group with limited places available so jump in if you're interested.  From Stage Fright to Spotlight.  Episode 50 In this episode, we're going to consider the notion of what IS a FREE voice? It has all kinds of connotations from the metaphorical to the literal, and we can look at it in terms of the mechanics of the voice, and we can look at it in terms of how much we feel able to speak our truth. "Physical awareness and relaxation are the first steps in the work to be done on the voice. The mind and body must learn to cooperate in activating and releasing inner impulses and dissolving physical inhibitions. Actors must develop bodies that are sensitive and integrated rather than super controlled and muscular. They must educate the voice into the union of self and body. The voice communicates the inner world of the psyche to the outer world of attentive listeners, both on the stage and in life." Kristin Linklater - Freeing the Natural Voice In order to have a fully 'free' voice, and by that I'm going to say, a voice that is unencumbered by physical tension, doesn't fatigue easily, recovers quickly from hard effort... to have a 'free' voice you need to take into account the spiritual, the psychological and the physical. So in this podcast, I'm going attempt to bring those different approches together. I'm going to invite some super people on, to talk more about areas of vocal expression that they're passionate about, and give you lots of actionable steps to try along the way, from meditations to journalling prompts, vocal exercises and re-imagining of old stories.  I'm so glad you're here with me.    Episode One: Journaling Prompts 1. How do you feel about speaking up or singing in public? 2. How easy is it for you to 'color outside of the lines' when you use your voice? 3. How does your voice feel after extended use?  4. If you could do anything with your voice, what would it be? 5. What do you think is stopping you from doing that right now?   Also, if you're interested here is the link to the IAVMT

In this episode I'm talking with actor and voice coach Sarah Weatherwax about her journey as a Linklater teacher. It's hard to move in the realm of voice work without coming across the legacy of Kristin Linklater's work. I know it was threaded quite purposefully through my training as a Voice Movement Therapist. Kristin's  influence as an actor and a voice coach can't be underestimated and I recommend everyone who is interested in the foundations of vocal freedom, gets themselves a copy of her book Freeing the Natural Voice.  Although she passed away in 2020, her legacy continues through a global network of designated voice teachers, like my very special guest today. Freeing the Natural Voice by Kristin Linklater and all Sarah's links can be found here https://linktr.ee/sarahweatherwax Also in you are in the Toronto area...  📆 please be sure to check out Sarah's upcoming in person intensive workshop in Toronto from May 20 to Fri. May 23, 10am to 5pm, in downtown Toronto.  🎤 If you would like to join me for my upcoming online class on freeing your singing voice, all those details can be found here Permission to Sing - combining Shadow Work, Voice Movement Therapy and practical voice technique to set your voice free!  

Did you know that 75% of the population rate public speaking more scary than death, spiders and heights! So if you get a little anxious when the time comes to speak up in a meeting or pitch to a new client (or be interviewed on a podcast), you are NOT alone! In this episode I'm talking about my experience of performance anxiety and how I help other artists, entrepreneurs and leaders transform the stories running in their unconscious minds, so that they can step onto the stage and shine.  If you're interested in grabbing a spot in my new public speaking class you can find out more and snag yourself a seat here, a word to the wise this is going up by a chunk next round so join us now if you want the discounted rate  www.yourfreevoice.com/speaking  

I loved chatting with my lovely friend and colleague Daisy Tennant from beautiful Florence Italy last week.  We talked about all things Alexander Technique ❤️ I first came across Alexander Technique when I was working in a natural health center in North London. I loved the focus and the expansion I felt in my ribs, soon after I got another dose during my Voice Movement Therapy training, and have been using tiny, but powerful, fragments with singers ever since.  Daisy however has been practicing and teaching the Alexander Technique for over 20 years. She first came across it while studying theatre at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Daisy is also a working voice actor and specializes in teaching AT to fellow voice actors. You can find out more about Daisy and sign up for her workshops below. 👇  Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and if you can write a review for this podcast so that it can be found by other voice users.  To be added to my mailing list to be the first to hear about in person workshops and online training sign up here.  ❤️ Daisy Tennant VO website: www.daisytennant.com Alexander Technique website: www.goldenmeanstudios.com Next Intro to AT Course on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/intro-to-alexander-technique-tickets-1144569400889?aff=oddtdtcreator  

When was the last time something slipped out of your mouth before you knew what on earth was happening and you didn't even know where it came from? In this episode I'm talking about dealing with the shame of these outbursts or slips and offering that instead they might be offering the treasure of self knowing.  In Jungian psychology slips or outbursts are often seen as opportunities for growth. By examining what they reveal about our unconscious, we can integrate disowned parts of ourselves and move closer to individuation—the process of becoming whole. There's a lot of muscular armoring around the voice that comes from the school of "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." So exploring the unconscious material or shadow, with an experienced guide can open your voice and self expression in ways you simply might not have expected.  Practice: think of a recent incident when you really wished you could have walked those words back into your mouth before you said them. Were you feeling defensive, insecure, protective? What was underneath the impulse that might be calling for your attention?   "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." — Carl Jung Don't forget to subscribe and share if you enjoyed this episode. :)

In this episode I'm pondering ...maybe goal setting is just annoying? But seriously, why aren't we achieving our goals? Some of my thoughts include: Because they were unrealistic in size or amount of time given to them. Because we didn't really want them enough, or because they were 'shoulds' instead of things we really wanted. Because our unconscious conditioning said "hell no!". Because we picked too many things ...  and none of them brought us joy!  Because we're framing our goals by telling ourselves off - "don't eat so many sweets" is different from "eat more healthy foods". Because we aren't checking in on them every single day ...writing them down, singing them, and breaking them down into smaller achievable tasks.  "Success is the product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations." James Clear Atomic Habits Decide. Decide it's going to happen. Schedule time every single day to get you closer.  Share your fabulousness with the world, your joy, your goodness, your jokes, we need it. ❤️ If you enjoy this podcast please subscribe and share it with your friends. You can also stay in touch with all my happenings by joining my newsletter community, I never share my list and you can unsubscribe any time you like.  Just click here to sign up.  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/786581/113567292814525624/share  

In this short episode, I share what the Winter Solstice means to me and invite you to try my reflection and dreaming practice. I do love this time of year and it's so important for us to take time for ourselves to reflect and dream, to feel the sorrow or loss, but also to find joy in the darkness. If you would like to develop a stronger connection to your voice next year, make sure you're on my mailing list to be the first to know about my workshops and private coaching offers. Here's the link to sign up. Thank you for listening! Have a wonderful festive season and I'll be back in the New Year! Julia xox    

  This episode is about Gratitude practices that I enjoy, and thought you might too.    Robin Wall Kimmerer's 'Gratitude Inventory' inspired by our connection to nature.  • Step outside • Take in your surroundings • Send gratitude to a few things you see or smell or hear. • Remember how connected you are to this abundance in nature and send some gratitude back to yourself.    Here's her book Braiding Sweetgrass - indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants.   Here's the Wall visualization   Start by finding a quiet place to relax with your eyes closed for about 10 minutes, take a journaland something to write with, then listen to the guided visualization  Aftwards, journal about what happened and then write a list of everything you had accomplished on the other side of the wall …   Strong voice, loose body, successful narration career whatever it was…   Then every single day for the rest of the year write these gratitude's as if they had already happened in your journal or notebook before you start your day like…   "I'm so grateful for my strong flexible voice" "I'm so grateful for booking 5 Voice Over jobs this month" "I'm so grateful to  be able to connect authentically to my audience and my family/community etc"   Then you walk around reading or singing these gratitudes out loud once through every single day!   Oh and finally the Cranberry Curd Tart recipe from NYT Cooking  Here it is  in case that link stops working, it really does look like that! Cranberry Curd Tart from NYT Cooking Ingredients Yield:8 to 10 servings For the Hazelnut Crust 1¼cups/180 grams raw hazelnuts 1cup/125 grams rice flour ¼teaspoon salt ½cup/112 grams sugar 6tablespoons/100 grams softened butter, more as necessary For the Cranberry Curd 12ounces/340 grams cranberries 1cup/225 grams sugar Peel (orange part only) and juice of 1 orange (about ½ cup) 4ounces/113 grams softened butter (1 stick) 2eggs plus 2 egg yolks Step 1 Make the crust: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Put hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10 to 15 minutes, until skins darken and crack. Put roasted nuts in a clean towel and rub off skins. Discard skins and let nuts cool. Step 2 In a food processor, grind nuts with half the rice flour until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add remaining rice flour and salt and pulse briefly. Step 3 Cream sugar and butter in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon for a minute or two until pale and thick. Add nut mixture and combine until dough comes together. If it seems crumbly, add 1 to 2 tablespoons softened butter or a little cold water. Step 4 Press dough evenly into a 10-inch tart pan; use half the dough for the sides and half for the bottom. Prick bottom with a fork and freeze for 30 minutes (or several days if desired). Step 5 Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake chilled tart shell about 15 minutes until lightly brown. Cool. Step 6 While the crust bakes and cools, make the cranberry curd: Put cranberries, sugar and orange juice and peel in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until cranberries have popped and softened, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a food mill or medium mesh sieve and press cooking liquid and solids into a bowl. (Alternatively, for the most vibrant color, purée the cooked cranberry and orange mixture with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender. Press through a fine-mesh sieve.) Whisk the butter into the warm liquid. Step 7 Put eggs and egg yolks into a bowl and beat lightly. Slowly whisk a cup of warm cranberry liquid into the eggs to temper, then combine both and whisk together. Wipe out pot if necessary, return liquid to pot and cook over low heat until nearly bubbling and thickened, about 10 minutes. If using immediately, let cool to room temperature. If working ahead, cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap (press wrap against curd) and refrigerate. (Curd may be cooked up to 1 day ahead.) Step 8 Pour cooled cranberry curd into the cooled prebaked tart shell and smooth top with a spatula. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to set curd. Cool on a rack. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.    

In this conversation with my friend and colleague Chris MacLean, we talk about her life and career as a singer/songwriter, community choir leader, retreat host, circle singer and so much more. We talk about the logistics of running a choir, fear of death, how to make a living and how we both believe it is everyone's birthright to sing. Here is how you can find out more about Chris, her recordings, retreats, performances  and her choir. Chris MacLean Here is how you can find out about Circle Singing. Here is how you can find out more about the end of life singing know as Threshold Choirs And here's the link for my final in person event of the year! Click here for the messy transcript  

In this quick solo episode, I'm exploring boundaries and how to speak up and set yours.  Q. Do you feel like you can stand up for yourself? Q. Can you speak up to defend others? Here are a few ways that I'm suggesting that you might check your boundaries. How does your body feel in the moment? Hot? Clenched stomach? Are you making a fist? How is your breath? Give yourself a moment to feel into it and try to get clear on what has made you feel uncomfortable?  Take a few slow breaths, let your system get regulated again. Take your time, you don't have to respond in the moment. Before you say yes to someone else are you saying no to yourself at the same time? Take the time to check in and see if this way of spending your time or energy is really aligned to your path, your goals? Communicate with clarity. Keep it brief, when you are making it clear to people. Generally use fewer words.  Get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. Growth is uncomfortable, honest self expression can be excruciating.  Be prepared for pushback. Not everyone is going to like you setting your boundaries and saying "no" and that's ok.  "The more brightly you shine your light for other people, the more you show the way of kindly setting boundaries and clearly communicating your needs, you are demonstrating that for other people."   Sign up here for Julia's newsletter list to be the first to hear about groups, retreats and online workshops. To learn more about Julia's final In person workshop of the year CLICK HERE  You can also follow Julia on the following social sites: Instagram YouTube Facebook LinkedIN   For the messy transcript click here      

On this episode of Your Free Voice, I'm delighted to bring back into the studio celebrity voice coach and founder of The Voice Straw,  Mindy Pack!    You may have listened to episode #32 where I talked to Mindy about her experience being a celebrity voice coach, well we ran out of time to talk about straws so I had to get her back again. We're going pretty deep into how to use the straw for rehabilitation after a cold or injury and how to prevent injury doing video game call outs and efforts prepping with the straw!   I met Mindy about 5 years ago when she was co-hosting a conference in LA for voice teachers and singers with Dr. Reen Gupta. I loved her energy and generosity from day one and have been using straws with my clients ever since.    You may have attended a workshop or listened to Episode 7 which gives you the basics of straw phonation, but if you haven't, listen to that one first, it's ever so short.  Here's why I'm such a fan of straws and this version in particular… "The Voice Straw is the complete training tool for singers, actors, speakers, school teachers, and other frequent voice users. Using your voice should be effortless! Our straws are uniquely designed to release tension, relieve strain, and reduce vocal breathiness, cracking and flipping. The Voice Straw is backed by over 20 years of scientific research that has proven to benefit voice users by encouraging more efficient vocal fold movement, adjusting the vocal tract into peak position and creating vocal balance." www.voicestraw.com   About Mindy "My dream as a child was to be the world's first "singing heart surgeon." Medical school didn't quite pan out, but throughout my career, I have combined my love of singing with my interest in health and physiology to help vocalists of all levels meet their potential.   Clinically certified both in Vocology from The National Center for Voice and Speech, and as a licensed massage therapist, I specialize in vocal structural integration. In my coaching, I aim to not only help my clients connect in the industry, but to help them develop in their artistry through collaboration to find the best possible solutions for their career.   In 2019 I applied my knowledge of voice science and vocal production to create The Voice Straw, a vocal training tool for singers, actors, and speakers that has been clinically proven to help relieve tension, strain, breathiness, cracking, and flipping in the voice.   With locations in Salt Lake and Los Angeles, and virtual worldwide clients, my roster includes singers, artists, voice over actors, professional speakers, rehabilitation, newscasters, and transitioning voices. I would love to connect with vocalists of all levels!"  Taken from https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindy-pack/ More links and discounts… Follow Mindy on instagram here  Follow me on instagram here   And here's my 10%discount coupon for you for the Voice Straw https://voicestraw.com/discount/JULIANORTON If you enjoyed this episode PLEASE share it with a friend and help me get the word out! Happy voicing!

My interview with my friend and colleague Ruth Phillips.  Ruth Phillips is a modern and baroque cellist, a mindfulness coach, founder of The Breathing Bow and co-founder of InsideOut Musician and a writer. Alongside her rich and diverse career as a concert cellist and teacher. Ruth is internationally sought after as a performance coach and meditation teacher, helping people who suffer from tension, stage fright or lack of focus overcome the physical and mental strains of the music profession.  Ruth primarily works with instrumentalists, but her insights into the source of suffering when we practice, how the body holds and moves with the breath and how to prepare for performance using meditation and loving kindness are very powerful and equally applicable to singers and actors.  I do hope you enjoy our conversation where we talk about all these things and more. ❤️ You can find more about Ruth at: Ruth Phillips On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ruth.phillips.752 And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ruthphillipscello/ Like and subscribe and share this episode with a friend! If you would like to work with me on discovery a full and free connection to your voice visit my coaching website   or sign up for my newsletter here to get the inside scoop on workshops and voicey insights. Thank you for listening!                  

This episode is a bit of a first, because I am the one being interviewed! Rush Dorsett reached out to me to be part of her Awaken Your Voice Summit in October 2023. It was a great series where she interviewed 10 different thought leaders around the singing voice over 10 days. There were some really great interviews with people I've admired for a very long time (Chloe Goodchild anyone?).  I honestly felt very lucky to be part of this event. We talked about many things including ... • What got me into the Mind, Body and Spirit of the voice approach in the first place. • Alfred Wolfsohn, Roy Hart theatre, Carl Jung and Voice Movement Therapy. • Why it's not all about a 'pretty voice'. • Our vocal conditioning or predispositions. I also took her audience on a 10 minute guided vizualization to meet their Shadow Voice. You can get your copy of that vizualisation by clicking here.   If you're interested in coaching with me privately set up a free 30 minute call here. If you're interested in Begin to Sing all the details are at www.yourfreevoice.com/events "Julia is an inspiration! I Took this remarkable course earlier this year and it opened my eyes and my heart and helped me to deal with, tame, and even banish self-imposed limitations that have gotten in my way for too long. It is a wonderful adventure and learning experience I confidently recommend." Maria Makis. Voice Actor/Singer NYC Thank you so much for listening! have a great week! Julia P.S You can find me and message me with questions or insights about your shadow voice on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/depthvoicecoachingwithjulia/      

Join me in this episode for my personal reflections on 2023 and also some suggestions for how to have a more aligned, intentional focus for the year ahead. It doesn't actually matter when you listen to this episode, the exercises are relevant whenever you need to recalibrate and stop yourself from getting overwhelmed.  If you joined me in my Goal Setting Workshop in December, use this as another chance to make sure you haven't snuck sneaky 'shoulds' onto your list! If you weren't able to join me, but would like to listen to the audio of the main body of the workshop and play along (which includes the Wall Visualization, but not the personal shares) You can grab that here. Or if you'd just like to try the professionally recorded Wall Visualization 'cos it's only 10 minutes and you'd like a quick reset, you can grab that here. Personal note: 😭 There is a LOT of shadow projection happening in the world right now and it is causing untold amounts of grief and tragedy. Let this be the year that we all do our part, learn about and integrate our own shadow material and do our part to reduce the suffering.❤️